A SCHEME to floodlight the arches of a river bridge has been abandoned - because it would disturb a colony of bats.

They are said by ecologists to use the arches as a maternity wing to give birth to their offsprings.

A sum of £4,000 had been put aside to illuminate the main archways beneath the 18th Century bridge which crosses the River Ure, at Masham, near Ripon.

The community's North Yorkshire county councillor, Paul Richardson, said he had won backing from Masham Parish Council for the scheme.

He was making the money available from his county council member budget allowance, but had not counted on the bats colony.

Coun Richardson wanted to enhance the bridge on a key entrance to Masham to complement the floodlighting of the spire on nearby Masham church.

But North Yorkshire County Council's Heritage Department has ruled against the scheme.

Officers believe lighting the arches would constitute disturbing the bats, which are a protected species in this country.

A spokesman said: "We would have to apply to Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) for a licence to disturb them.

"It was our view that lighting would constitute a disturbance and it is unlikely that a licence would have been granted under those circumstances."